Year: 2012

In only a few days, the clock will strike midnight and we’ll welcome a new year. As we embark on 2013, let’s look back at the hottest trends of 2012. From PSY’s viral hit “Gangnam Style” to the summer Olympics, Bing offers a glimpse of the most popular people, places and moments of the past…

For more than 50 years, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has helped children track Ol’ Saint Nicholas as he makes his journey to homes with his trusty reindeer and gifts in tow. This year, Microsoft is partnering with NORAD to make following Santa’s sleigh even easier. The Santa Tracker tool is built on Microsoft’s…

Bing it On already challenged the nation to select its preferred web search results but now the challenge has risen to a whole new level. It’s time to Bing it On with the holidays for a chance to win a ‘Microsoft Box of Awesome’ for anyone participating in the U.S. And what’s a ‘Microsoft Box…

Since 2002, Microsoft’s Imagine Cup has served as the springboard for innovative ideas in technology. The Imagine Cup has engaged thousands of U.S. college and high school students to generate and nurture their entrepreneurship and technology prowess. Recent competitions have focused on technology ideas that help solve the world’s toughest problems. Now in the event’s…

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are all about buying. “Giving Tuesday” is all about giving. Based on the idea that there is one day for giving thanks and two for getting deals, New York’s 92nd Street Y partnered with the United Nations Foundation to create Giving Tuesday, which takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Microsoft…

Do you have an idea that will help children learn how to read? Are you passionate about keeping our environment clean? Well now you have the opportunity to create an app that can help the world — and win up to $15,000 in the process. To celebrate the launch of Windows 8 and Windows Phone…

An interesting phenomenon became apparent to Microsoft engineers and designers several years ago: consumers spent too much time learning their phones, when phones really ought to be learning consumers. Instead of building smartphones around icons, they should be built around people. This week, Microsoft launched Windows Phone 8, designed as the world’s most personal smartphone…

Last Friday, more than 1,500 Bostonians flocked to Kendall Square to celebrate the launch of Windows 8 and to check out the latest devices, including the Surface. Microsoft employees were on hand distributing Windows swag and showing off the Surface’s beautiful user interface during live demos. If you weren’t able to join us, never fear! …

Today, Windows 8 is available globally, with more than 1,000 Windows 8 certified PCs and tablets now on the market. Windows 8 represents a reimagining of Windows. It provides a personalized experience with a beautiful new user interface that puts you at the center. You get a great experience for entertainment AND creating content all…

At Microsoft, we believe in the power of our people, partners and technology to help accelerate change and make the world a better place. October marks the 30th Microsoft Employee Giving Campaign and yesterday we were delighted to announce that since campaign began, employees in the U.S. have raised $1 billion in cash for more…